Off-grid Jero yurt assembles in a few hours, can be towed by bike

Ancient nomadic people knew a thing or two about living off-grid, so it makes sense that Scottish company Trakke drew on the traditional Central Asian yurt for inspiration when designing a modern shelter. The Jero yurt can serve as an extra bedroom, a basic off-grid dwelling, or a glamping retreat. The company also says it's towable by bike and can be assembled in a few hours without any tools.

The Jero was launched a couple of weeks ago and is constructed from canvas and marine plywood, with stainless steel hardware and polyester rope. Trakke founder Alec Farmer told Gizmag that while comparable yurts made in a traditional style can weigh up to 500 kg (1,102 lb), the Jero weighs a significantly lighter 110 kg (242 lb).

"To minimize the weight while maintaining the structural integrity of the yurt we looked to nature for solutions – the unique telescopic roof struts are held together using a block designed to replicate the strength and durability of a vertebrae," explains Uula Jero, who designed the yurt and lent it his name. "Using CNC fabrication techniques, we have been able to cut far more complex shapes that allow us to strip as much material away as possible without compromising on strength."

When folded and packed away, the Jero measures 1.2 x 08. x 0.5 m (3.9 x 2.6 x 1.64 ft), so should fit easily into most cars. Farmer also told us that it can be carried on a bicycle trailer, and while this is definitely not for the faint-hearted, Uula Jero reports that he successfully moved the first prototype of the yurt all over Cologne, Germany, by bike and trailer.

Inside, the Jero measures 12 sq m (129 sq ft), and access is gained via its sole removable door. The yurt measures 4 m (13 ft) in diameter and rises to a maximum height of 2.6 m (8.5 ft). A team of three people can erect the yurt in around two hours without any tools, and its waterproof and rotproof canvas should ensure that the interior stays dry.

The Jero Yurt is available to purchase from Trakke and will set you back £4,500 (around US$7,460).

Adam scours the globe from his home in North Wales in order to bring the best of innovative architecture and sustainable design to the pages of Gizmag. Most of his spare time is spent dabbling in music, tinkering with old Macintosh computers and trying to keep his even older VW bus on the road.

242 lbs. .......$7,000 ........ This is a real green health machine! Great work out lugging this big boy around, plus the price means I can't afford a car.

Rehab

Interesting, but the original ger [yurt] has walls made of thin strips of wood, so one can lift the canvas walls for added ventilation in the summer. Solid walls = no breeze = hot and sweaty. And one can get an original style ger with the ability to keep cool for less than $8KUS.

Aruvqan Myers

Looks like they missed out on the folding lattice panel trick most modern yurts use. That might be why it takes so long to erect theirs.

Bob Ehresman

When I head for the great outdoors, I do so in a 40 foot motor home. It has satellite TV, hot (very) and cold running water, shower, microwave convection oven and a three burner gas stove and an ice maker. We have a propan/electric fridge and a queen size bed. We have two roof mounted AC / Heat Pumps and when temps get below 32 degrees a furnace kicks in. We also have a 12 KW generator. We are much more comfortable than the guy in his portable Yurt. Yup, nothing like the great outdoors.